Fact Sheet

May 2010

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 7 will oversee groundwater sampling activities at the
Le Mars Coal Gas Plant Site in Le Mars, Plymouth County, Iowa. EPA collected groundwater samples from the 12 EPA installed monitoring wells during the week of April 12, 2010. Field sampling activities will be conducted during the week of May 16 – 20, 2010, with the conclusion of final groundwater sampling in December 2010.

During the sampling event, workers will be at the site between the hours of
8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. daily. Heavy equipment will be in use; however, normal public activities will not be interrupted.

BACKGROUND

The Le Mars Coal Gas Site is located at 331 1st Street, Northeast, Le Mars, Plymouth County, Iowa. It is 1.6-acres, and is bordered on the northwest by the Union Pacific and Canadian National railroads, on the east by 4th Avenue Northeast, and on the south by 1st Street

Northeast. The Le Mars Coal Gas plant was constructed by the Le Mars Gas Light Company in 1884, and the company conducted coal and gas operations onsite. The Site transferred between several companies over the years, until the City of Le Mars purchased the property in 1985. The City is the current owner of the property and uses the building on the property for office space, maintenance, and storage facilities.

EPA discovered the site in 1995 and conducted several assessments of the property between 1995 and 2002. A Non-Time-Critical Removal Action was conducted by EPA in 2004. EPA has periodically performed groundwater sampling and additional characterization since the removal action.